IQT molds BDG Airmen

Airman 1st Class Megan Radwanski, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, rear, carries Airman Jasmine Smith to safety during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), inspect the underbelly of a Humvee during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman Angel Rodriguez, 824th Base Defense Squadron, fireteam member signals to his other Airmen from the turret position of a Humvee during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), ride in a Humvee during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman Treyshaun Burnett, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, front, provides simulated cover fire for his fellow airmen while they enter a building during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), secure their location during dismounted operations training, March 27th, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Moore, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, front, lays in the prone position during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

A puddle shows the reflection of an Airman from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) during a dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman 1st Class Emily Anderson, 822th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, looks out the window frame of a Humvee during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody air Force Base, Ga The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman 1st Class Alexander Moore, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, aims down the sight of a simulated weapon from the turret position of a Humvee during vehicle operations training, March 28, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The vehicle ops training is part of Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), run as a group following dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airman 1st Class Kierra Carter, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, right, prepares to round a corner during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) enter a building during dismounted operations training, March 27th, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen 1st Class David Medeiros, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, left, prepares to enter a building during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the 820th Base Defense Group an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

An Airman from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) advances his position during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), prepare to advance their position during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), prepare to advance their position during dismounted operations training, March 27, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The dismounted ops training is part of an Initial Qualification Training, which gives new Airmen coming into the BDG an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate within a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

Airmen from the 824th Base Defense Squadron practice engaging with simulated hostile locals during dismounted training operations, March 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The operations conducted were a part of the 820th Base Defense Group’s (BDG) Initial Qualification Training, which is given to new Airmen coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt)

Airman from the 824th Base Defense Squadron get briefed during dismounted training operations, March 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The operations conducted were a part of the 820th Base Defense Group’s (BDG) Initial Qualification Training, which is given to new Airmen coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt)

Airman 1st Class Loren Steed, top, and Airman Jazzlyn Araujo, 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team members, coordinate with each other during dismounted training operations, March 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The operations conducted were a part of the 820th Base Defense Group’s (BDG) Initial Qualification Training, which is given to new Airmen coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt)

Airmen from the 824th Base Defense Squadron practice staggered formation techniques during dismounted training operations, March 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The operations conducted were a part of the 820th Base Defense Group’s (BDG) Initial Qualification Training, which is given to new Airmen coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt)

Airman 1st Class Loren Steed, right, and Airman Robert Ward, 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team members, set up perimeter defense during dismounted training operations, March 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The operations conducted were a part of the 820th Base Defense Group’s (BDG) Initial Qualification Training, which is given to new Airmen coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that will be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt)

Approximately 35 Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) participated in Initial Qualification Training (IQT), March 26-28, here.

The training is given to all new Airman coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that would be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment.

“So much more goes into being a part of the BDG then what I had imagined,” said Airman 1st Class Loren Steed, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member. “All the responsibilities and duties that go into being a defender are very exciting.”

BDG Airmen are trained in the security forces career field during tech school, but once they arrive to the BDG their mission and training capabilities differ from a SFS squadron.

“The 820th BDG’s home station mission is to train on a daily basis which allows us even more time to fine tune our tactics,” said Staff Sgt. Ulysses Ortiz, 820th Combat Operations Squadron unit trainer “We put more emphasis into being combat ready and being able to perform in more austere situations than what a regular SFS squadron would.”

Ortiz said that the training was geared towards instilling good communication skills, teamwork and making the new Airmen learn to rely on the other Airmen within their unit.

“Our instructors teach based on their previous deployment experiences that are in direct relation to the training that they are giving,” said Ortiz. “This allows for a level of realism, since our Instructors have applied the same tactics they are providing to the new Airman in real world scenarios.”

While in the BDG, Airmen are offered opportunities to sharpen their combat readiness skills through specialized trainings such as: U.S. Army Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger school.

“We give our Airmen the opportunity to broaden their scope of ability and be able to train with some of the best combat instructors in the military,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz said IQT also focuses on unit pride, especially with educating the new Airmen on the heritage of the 820th from the first day of training.

“At the 820th, we strive to establish a sense of leadership from day one that our Airmen will be able to build on,” said Ortiz. “The most important aspect of that leadership gained while at the 820th is the ability to pass it on to the other Airmen you encounter throughout your Air Force career.”